What is Social/Emotional Learning?
SEL programs claim to improve student success by teaching students to manage their emotions, attitudes and behavior.
PROBLEMS:
There are no measurable standards of achievement in SEL.
SEL programs are expensive.
SEL programs take significant amounts of classroom time away from academics.
Students are asked to submit private and personal information into a database.
A computerized analysis of a student’s mental health is produced and used as an observational tool by staff.
Student data is often stored and used in methods that violate FERPA privacy laws.
State law, requiring written permission from parents to collect personal student data, is often ignored.
Since school staff are mandatory reporters, parents risk false accusations of child abuse.
Little evidence exists to support the claim that SEL programs help students with academics.
It is primarily the job of parents to teach concepts such as empathy, self-control or social awareness.
SEL programs teach children to manage their behavior according to principles of collectivism.
is sel being taught in palos verdes schools?
The following curriculums and programs are currently used in Palos Verdes schools:
Second Step
Illuminate
We Thinkers!
Sample of Collectivism taught from a We Thinkers! storybook (grades K-2)